The Central Coast comprises many different regions, most notably Monterey County, Santa Lucia Highlands, Santa Barbara County, San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles. What makes regions here so special is the soil and the mountains. Most of the mountain ranges of the Central Coast run east-west and not north-south, meaning these areas are completely exposed to the cooling Pacific breeze.
Toss in heavy nighttime fog, extended daily sunshine, and a dash of clay-rich soil, and you have the perfect recipe for a region well-suited to growing cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and even Cabernet Franc.
Regional producers have been steadily gaining popularity in recent years for their great iterations of these varieties. Keep an eye out for wines from Calera, Bonny Doon, Blue Canyon, Rhys, Diora, Talbott, and McBride Sisters.